Artie Knapp: 'View from a Zoo'

Thea, the cat, learns there's no place like home.Synayana Nair Kanjilal

With the holidays in full swing now, “View from a Zoo” written by Artie Knapp and illustrated by Sunayna Nair Kanjilal, makes for a sweet, seasonal read for the youngest reader.

Thea seems to have it all. She’s a white house cat, living in a warm, loving household. There’s a mom and a dad, two kids, plenty to eat, a roaring fire, people to pet and adore her -- pretty much what any cat (and person) wants.

But she wants adventure. It’s before Christmas and she escapes one day onto the streets of Manhattan. She’s impressed by skyscrapers and honked at by taxis. Thea meets a mean cat and a very nice one, who helps her escape a puppy, which has broken, lose from his leash.

That street-wise cat teaches Thea a valuable lesson. They go up to The Bronx Zoo, where they meet Vern, a lion who lives there.

“Vern appreciated Thea’s search for adventure, but asked her if she understood the hardship that came with being an outside cat. Thea didn’t know what to say. But her empty stomach growled loudly, because she was hungry.”

He explains how “all cats want to be somewhere they’re loved. And you’re a very lucky cat.”

Vern also shows Thea a bookcase in his cage (remember, we have talking lions here, no reason they shouldn’t be literate, talking lions) and how books can take anyone on adventures.

So Thea returns to her loving, warm family, now understanding how books can help set her free on adventures.